Radically new UK economic strategy could be undermined
Subject New UK economic direction. Significance The rhetoric of the new government implies a radical break with previous policy both domestically (tackling regional inequality) and internationally (the freedom to diverge from EU rules). In both cases the ambitions are real and there will be major changes, but significant economic and political tensions remain and have yet to be resolved: public spending demands may not be met due to fiscal and political constraints while London's aim for economic divergence will face opposition from business. Impacts The respective red lines of the United Kingdom and EU mean that a thin trade deal, or possibly none at all, is the most likely outcome. Large increases in infrastructure spending are unlikely to alleviate regional inequalities in the short term. Economic divergence from the EU will limit the scope for a close and comprehensive EU-UK security and defence relationship post-Brexit.